County · Nebraska
Dawes County, Nebraska
Dawes County, Nebraska. Dawes County had 7,858 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 4.1% since 2020, while Nebraska grew 2.9%. It holds 3 places (3 cities, villages and boroughs) and 2 census tracts. GEOID 31045.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
7,858
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 8,199 · ACS 2020-2024: 8,140
Median household income
$56,280
±$5,544 (90% margin)
Nebraska: $76,475
Median home value
$150,900
±$44,669 (90% margin)
Nebraska: $238,600
Median gross rent
$900
±$191 (90% margin)
Nebraska: $1,072
How many people live in Dawes County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 8,199 residents in Dawes County. The Census Bureau estimates 7,858 for July 1, 2025, down 4.1% since 2020, while Nebraska grew 2.9%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 8,140 over 1,396 square miles of land.
| Measure | Dawes County | Nebraska | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 8,140 | 1,978,707 | −670 |
| Households | 3,453±216 | 797,847 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.12±0.13 | 2.42 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 4,037±21 | 863,444 | −210 |
Dawes County's population since 2000
From 9,060 in 2000 to 7,858 in 2025: down 13.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Dawes County?
Dawes County holds 3 places: 3 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places). The largest is Chadron with 4,975 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Dawes County?
The median resident of Dawes County is 35.8 years old; 18.2% are under 18 and 19.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 85.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 5.0%.
| Measure | Dawes County | Nebraska | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.8±2.3 | 37.2 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 18.2%±0.9 pts | 24.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 19.7%±0.7 pts | 16.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5.0% | 12.7% | −0.4 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 85.8%±0.5 pts | 75.3% | +0.7 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.5%±0.6 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.1%±1.0 pts | 2.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 2.8%±1.5 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.8%±1.4 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.3 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.0%±1.1 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 3.4%±1.7 pts | 12.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.5%±1.8 pts | 6.9% | – |
| With a disability | 14.2%±2.9 pts | 12.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 9.6%±3.2 pts | 7.2% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 95.9%±3.0 pts | 92.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 36.2%±6.5 pts | 34.6% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 17.1%±5.1 pts | 12.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 7.5%±2.7 pts | 2.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Dawes County earn?
Half of Dawes County's 3,453 households earn less than $56,280 a year (±$5,544), against $76,475 in Nebraska. In 2015-2019 it was $62,458 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 13.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Dawes County | Nebraska | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $56,280±$5,544 | $76,475 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $76,200±$7,461 | $102,399 | – |
| Per capita income | $32,306±$2,548 | $41,751 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 13.1%±3.5 pts | 10.6% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 6.7%±6.5 pts | 12.0% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 10.0%±5.0 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 84.6%±4.2 pts | 90.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Dawes County?
Owners occupy 61.8% of Dawes County's occupied homes and renters 38.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $150,900 by its owner (±$44,669). The median renter pays $900 a month including utilities, and 43.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Dawes County | Nebraska | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $150,900±$44,669 | $238,600 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $900±$191 | $1,072 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 43.3%±14.1 pts | 35.9% | +21.2 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,219±$134 | $1,736 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 61.8%±5.9 pts | 66.5% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 4,037±21 | 863,444 | −210 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.8%±2.2 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.8%±7.2 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 73.6%±5.4 pts | 71.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 7.3%±2.8 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.5%±0.6 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 32.4%±6.3 pts | 18.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Dawes County building?
Builders took permits for 15 new housing units across Dawes County in 2025 (15 single-family), 1.9 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Dawes County get to work?
72.4% of Dawes County's workers drive alone and 7.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 15.6 minutes.
| Measure | Dawes County | Nebraska | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 63.3%±3.9 pts | 68.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 1.6%±1.2 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 72.4%±5.7 pts | 76.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 10.4%±4.8 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Walked | 8.2%±3.1 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 7.7%±3.0 pts | 11.0% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 15.6 min±2.4 | 19.2 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What are Dawes County's census tracts?
Dawes County is divided into 2 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $53,485 (Tract 9507) to $79,850 (Tract 9506).
| Tract 950631045950600 | 2,351±264 | $79,850 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 950731045950700 | 5,789±264 | $53,485 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Dawes County compare with Nebraska's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 36th of 93 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 79th of 93 |
| Residents per square mile | 58th of 93 |
| Median household income | 88th of 93 |
| Median home value | 55th of 93 |
| Median gross rent | 21st of 93 |
| Poverty rate | 16th of 92 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 6th of 93 |
| Median age | 84th of 93 |
Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Dawes County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.